C10 The Most Expensive Auction

The Bai family was large, so they cooked up both fish. That evening, everyone ate until they were stuffed.

When Bai Feng and the others returned, Lin Yuefen couldn't stop praising Bai Rui: "Our youngest is getting more and more capable. We're relying on him for our meals!"

Adults sure know how to exaggerate, eager to praise their beloved kids to the skies.

Bai Feng, feeling a bit too full himself, remarked, "That's the way to do it."

Lin Yuefen added, "He's such a good kid. Who else has a child this capable?"

Bai Rui was beaming with pride.

For most kids in the village, digging up bamboo shoots and foraging for wild greens was just a way to satisfy their cravings and have some fun. But for Bai Rui, it seemed like a serious job, significantly improving the family's meals.

...

The next morning, the Bai and Shen families set off again for the Bless Coming Gate. This time was different; both families brought out their stock, with each person carrying about twenty pairs of shoes.

Shen Jian borrowed a small cart from his neighbor to haul the shoes. Not only that, but he also brought his youngest son, Shen Heming, along. The idea of "kids selling shoes" inspired him, thinking his son could learn a lot.

Bai Qiaoqiao saw this and didn't say a word, letting Bai Shengli place her and Shen Heming on the cart together. Shen Heming wasn't too happy about being out, as he wanted to sleep in.

His dad didn't dare to mess with his older son, so he took it out on the younger one. Right now, he was scolding him: "Bai Rui can dig for bamboo shoots and catch fish, and Qiaoqiao can sell shoes. What can you do?"

This was a classic case of "why can't you be like other kids?"

But Bai Qiaoqiao didn't feel sorry for him; he deserved it.

Shen Heming ignored his dad and brightened up when he saw Bai Qiaoqiao. As two adults pulled the cart along the mountain path, he kept trying to bother Bai Qiaoqiao.

"Qiaoqiao, do you want an egg?" he asked.

Bai Qiaoqiao kept a straight face and replied, "No, I'm full."

A moment later, he asked, "Qiaoqiao, why hasn't Bai Rui been playing with me lately?"

"Ask him yourself," Bai Qiaoqiao said.

After a while, he couldn't resist anymore and tried to reach out. "Qiaoqiao, give me a pinch..."

Bai Qiaoqiao pretended to cry, "Wah..."

Shen Jian yelled, "Behave yourself! Leave her alone!"

Shen Heming started throwing a fit on the cart, "Why can't I pinch her? You all do it!"

This made Shen Jian want to hit him, but Bai Shengli intervened to calm things down.

Shen Heming had always been a troublemaker, even in his past life, and it seemed he was the same way as a kid. Even after being scolded by his dad and Bai Qiaoqiao's fake crying, he still insisted on crawling over on the cart to pinch Bai Qiaoqiao.

Because the two kids were just too rowdy, Shen Jian had no choice but to carry Qiaoqiao in a small backpack on his back.

Bai Shengli felt a bit guilty. "Let me carry her."

Shen Jian gritted his teeth and said, "No need. If I had known, I wouldn't have brought this little rascal along."

By the end of the trip, he was exhausted. When they reached their destination, the shoes were laid out on the cart, and Qiaoqiao started fiddling with them. Shen Jian was so tired he was gasping for air and drank half a jug of water.

Seeing this, he was puzzled and asked, "Qiaoqiao, aren't you selling the shoes?" Usually, by this time, she would be attracting customers.

Qiaoqiao, focused on her task, replied, "In a bit."

The two adults exchanged glances, both thinking—oh no, the kid's lost interest. Meanwhile, Heming had already dashed off to other stalls to play.

Afraid his son might get lost, Shen Jian got up again to fetch him, and Heming was just as energetic, leading to a chase between father and son. Mr. Shen was likely to be worn out by the end of the day.

Bai Shengli kept an eye on his daughter, watching her carefully rearrange the shoes, occasionally frowning and adjusting the order. It seemed like child's play, yet she was so serious about it.

He teased, "Qiaoqiao, are you playing a game of arranging things today?"

If she was bored, there wasn't much he could do but take a break and start calling out to customers himself.

"Hey, Dad," Qiaoqiao said earnestly, "you should get a cart. If not, at least bring a cloth next time. It's not good for the shoes to sit directly on the ground and get dirty."

Bai Shengli was speechless. He couldn't tell if his daughter was joking or serious.

But today, she really spent a good hour arranging the shoes before starting to sell, waiting until daylight. Bai Shengli couldn't quite grasp the method to her madness, but the shoes were arranged neatly, men's and women's alternating perfectly.

Meanwhile, Shen Jian was busy chasing after his son, Heming, who kept running off.

"Shen Jian, get back here and start calling out to customers! It's getting late!" Bai Shengli shouted.

Shen Jian finally caught his son, panting heavily, too exhausted to call out to anyone. Half-jokingly, he said between breaths, "We must be crazy, expecting a kid to sell shoes."

Kids are unpredictable; they get bored and stop working, or like today, Heming might have upset Qiaoqiao, and she wouldn't want to work. But she was such a sweet little girl, they couldn't scold her, not even push her.

Oh well, better to handle it himself.

"Just... let me catch my breath, and I'll start calling out..."

He was nearly worn out, but it was getting late. Seeing Shen Jian's disheveled state made Bai Shengli chuckle.

By now, Qiaoqiao had finished setting up.

She glanced at the sky, then at the crowd, realizing the time had come. Shen Heming mumbled beside her, "Just like me, only knows how to play..."

Bai Shengli cleared his throat, and suddenly, a small voice started calling out nearby.

"Big sale on shoes! Genuine leather men's shoes, premium women's shoes, everything's five bucks! Everything's five bucks! Huge sale~"

Bai Shengli's shout got caught in his throat, and Shen Jian forgot to breathe.

Five bucks?

These were old shoes, and selling them for five bucks could still make a profit!

Little Qiaoqiao held a makeshift cardboard megaphone, shouting with all her might, "Everything's five bucks! Everything's five bucks! Ladies and gentlemen, don't miss out! Come take a look!"

How adorable is that? And everything's five bucks!

This was the peak time for foot traffic at the Bless Coming Gate, and sure enough, people flocked over, not wanting to miss out.

Bai Qiaoqiao: "Five bucks, you won't regret it, you won't be fooled! Five bucks, take home genuine leather men's shoes and premium women's shoes!"

Shen Jian was about to roll on the ground, laughing and gasping for air, "Shengli, where did your little girl learn these lines?"

Bai Shengli was bewildered, "I have no idea!"

He only just realized that the cardboard his daughter was holding was meant to be a little megaphone.

People started to gather, and Shen Jian and Bai Shengli quickly began to greet them. Shen Jian nudged his son, who was standing there dumbfounded. "Go help out, will you?"

Over on the other side, Qiaoqiao was already busy welcoming customers, sweetly calling out to them and helping them try on shoes. As she handed out shoes, she chatted away, "We're having a big sale today! Our leather shoes usually go for at least ten dollars, but today they're all half off!"

In just an hour, they cleared out their stock, selling everything. Qiaoqiao looked at the empty cart, wiped the sweat from her small hands, and smiled with satisfaction.